ATP Finals 2024 Day One Recap

The opening day on the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals went the best way most individuals anticipated, with Taylor Fritz and Jannik Sinner each bagging victories to kick begin their bid to succeed in the knockout phases.

Fritz was the primary on court docket within the afternoon session, and he took full benefit of a Medvedev meltdown to win 6-4 6-3 in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Medvedev has no enterprise being on the court docket in current weeks, as his recreation has dropped off considerably in current months. It might be a shoulder difficulty, not liking the balls, or one thing else. Who is aware of, however he’s not having fun with being on the court docket.

Within the night session, Jannik Sinner took on Alex de Minaur, coming by means of a reasonably uneventful match 6-3 6-4 in 1 hour and 25 minutes to share the highest spot in Ille Nastase group.

Recap, stats and highlights beneath.

Nitto ATP Finals 2024 Day 1 Outcomes

Winner
Loser
Scoreline

Taylor Fritz (5)
Daniil Medvedev (4)
6-4 6-3

Jannik Sinner (1)
Alex de Minaur (7)
6-3 6-4

Fritz Feasts on Medvedev’s Meltdown

My decide for one of many two to make it out of Group Ilie Nastase, Taylor Fritz, made a rock-solid begin to his ATP finals marketing campaign, brushing apart Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-3 in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The American has had a stellar season, whereas Medvedev has struggled since early Spring. His error-strewn efficiency has summed up the previous few months for him on tour, and also you get the sense the low season can’t come fast sufficient.

Each guys performed relatively cagily within the opening few video games, and there wasn’t a single break level on provide within the first 9 video games.

Nevertheless, when serving at 5-4, 30-15, Medvedev hit three double faults in a row to drop the set. That precipitated a meltdown, and he smashed his racket on the bottom through the change of ends, which resulted in a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Within the second, Medvedev turned extra aggressive from the baseline and usual break factors in Fritz’s first two service video games, however he couldn’t take benefit.

Fritz then broke for a 4-2 lead after popping out on high in a 21-shot rally, prompting yet one more Medvedev meltdown.

The 2020 ATP Finals winner was hit with a degree penalty for throwing his racket after which intentionally hitting an on-court microphone. He then argued with the umpire and threatened to retire.

From there, Medvedev was mentally gone as Fritz eased to victory, getting his ATP finals off to the perfect begin. He’s in pole place to progress to the knockout phases.

The serve was a giant a part of it for certain. He’s such an excellent returner. You may make plenty of first serves, but when they’re not very prime quality, he places so many returns within the court docket. It was large for me, I hit plenty of strains, plenty of spots to begin out video games. I bought out of plenty of service video games with no stress. In among the ones we bought tight in, I may both grind by means of the lengthy rallies or get myself some free factors. My first time [at the Nitto ATP Finals], I used to be the alternate, nobody actually anticipated a lot of me right here. So, I used to be enjoying with home cash, no stress. This time, I’m fifth, and I actually wish to make it out of the group stage. I’m placing extra expectations on myself to do higher. I’m only a batter participant, and I’m tremendous proud of how I performed at the moment. It’s very straightforward generally when somebody’s doing that [Medvedev’s antics] to type of loosen up and assume that they’re simply going to be completed, and then you definitely type of drop your stage. I simply needed to attempt to inform myself to remain centered. I performed a extremely good five-three recreation as a result of he was going to he was going to struggle for that recreation. Fortunately, I then served a fantastic recreation (to win). Fritz on his opening win.

Match Stats

Daniil Medvedev
Taylor Fritz

Aces
8
9

Double Faults
8
0

1st Serve Proportion
63%
68%

1st Serve Factors Received
79% (30/38)
85% (33/39)

2nd Serve Factors Received
27% (6/22)
56% (10/18)

Break Factors Saved
50% (2/4)
100% (3/3)

1st Return Factors Received
15% (6/39)
21% (8/38)

2nd Return Factors Received
44% (8/18)
73% (16/22)

Break Factors Transformed
0% (0/3)
50% (2/4)

Winners
17
21

Unforced Errors
24
19

Internet Factors Received
63% (5/8)
45% (5/11)

Service Factors Received
60% (36/60)
75% (43/57)

Return Factors Received
25% (14/57)
40% (24/60)

Whole Factors Received
43% (50/117)
57% (67/117)

Service Video games Received
78% (7/9)
100% (10/10)

Return Video games Received
0% (0/10)
22% (2/9)

Whole Video games Received
37% (7/19)
63% (12/19)

Highlights

Sinner Slips Previous De Minaur in Easy Victory

Jannik Sinner additionally bought his 2024 ATP finals off to a strong begin, just about mirroring the Fritz match. Just like the fifth seed, he gained 12 video games and misplaced seven en path to his 6-3 6-4 win in opposition to Alex de Minaur.

The Italian is the betting favorite for the title in Turin, however he was the primary to drop serve within the third recreation.

Nevertheless, De Minaur couldn’t consolidate, and a run of 4 straight video games put Sinner up 5-2 earlier than he took the set 6-3.

Set two noticed Sinner break decisively within the fifth recreation, with solely a sudden and sudden medical emergency within the crowd briefly halting his cost as he maintained his benefit by means of to the end line.

De Minaur may solely win 4 return factors within the set as he struggled to make a lot of an impression in opposition to the heavier ball placing of Sinner, who now leads the Aussie 8-0 within the H2H.

Contemplating [how long since I last played], I’m very pleased. I began off with some unforced errors. He was enjoying nice at first of the match, so I simply tried to remain there mentally, figuring out that hopefully in some unspecified time in the future my tennis would arrive. It arrived fairly erly, and I began to return very effectively. My serve, for certain I’ve to enhance if I wish to [win] the following match. In opposition to Taylor [Fritz] for instance, at the moment he performed rather well. Let’s see, however at the moment I’m more than happy concerning the win and hopefully this may give me confidence for the following one. Sinner on his win.